Results of the 1869–70 New South Wales colonial election

The 1869–70 New South Wales colonial election was for 72 members representing 60 electoral districts. The election was conducted on the basis of a simple majority or first-past-the-post voting system. In this election there were 8 multi-member districts returning 20 members and 52 single member districts. In the multi-member districts each elector could vote for as many candidates as there were vacancies. 11 districts were uncontested.^[1]

New South Wales colonial election, 3 December 1869 – 10 January 1870 [1] Legislative Assembly << 1864–65–1872 >>
Enrolled voters		124,433
Votes cast		87,137		Turnout	53.70 [a]	+2.30
Informal votes		226		Informal	0.41	+0.05
Summary of votes by party
Party		Primary votes	%	Swing	Seats	Change
Total		87,137			72

There were three districts that did not have a residential or property qualification, Goldfields North (850), Goldfields South (2,240) and Goldfields West (6,000). The average number of enrolled voters per seat in the other districts was 1,649 ranging from The Paterson (583) to The Lachlan (3,857).^[2] The electoral boundaries were established under the Electoral Act 1858 (NSW).^[3][4]

Election results

Argyle

1869–70 New South Wales colonial election: Argyle
Friday 17 December 1869 ^[5]

Candidate		Votes	%
Edward Butler (elected)		unopposed

Balranald

1869–70 New South Wales colonial election: Balranald
Wednesday 5 January 1870 ^[6]

Candidate		Votes	%
Joseph Phelps (re-elected)		unopposed

Bathurst

1869–70 New South Wales colonial election: Bathurst
Wednesday 22 December 1869 ^[7]

Candidate		Votes	%
William Suttor (re-elected)		unopposed

The Bogan

1869–70 New South Wales colonial election: The Bogan
Wednesday 22 December 1869 ^[8]

Candidate		Votes	%
George Lord (re-elected)		407	64.6
Thomas Manning		205	32.5
John Ardill		18	2.9
Total formal votes		630	100.0
Informal votes		0	0.0
Turnout		631	26.4

Braidwood

1869–70 New South Wales colonial election: Braidwood
Tuesday 14 December 1869 ^[9]

Candidate		Votes	%
Michael Kelly (re-elected)		872	54.8
Edward Greville		625	39.3
George Alley		94	5.9
Total formal votes		1,591	100.0
Informal votes		0	0.0
Turnout		1,648	59.6

Camden

1869–70 New South Wales colonial election: Camden
Tuesday 14 December 1869 ^[10]

Candidate		Votes	%
Arthur Onslow (elected 1)		865	30.8
John Morrice (re-elected 2)		742	26.4
William Sherwin		644	22.9
Simon Belinfante		556	19.8
Total formal votes		2,807	100.0
Informal votes		0	0.0
Turnout		1,497	62.0

Canterbury

1869–70 New South Wales colonial election: Canterbury
Thursday 23 December 1869 ^[11]

Candidate		Votes	%
Montagu Stephen (elected 1)		1,252	26.3
Richard Hill (re-elected 2)		1,219	25.7
John Lucas (defeated)		979	20.6
William Hanson		947	19.9
Thomas Sullivan		339	7.1
W R Templeton		17	0.4
Total formal votes		4,753	100.0
Informal votes		0	0.0
Turnout		2,481	54.7

Carcoar

1869–70 New South Wales colonial election: Carcoar
Thursday 23 December 1869 ^[12]

Candidate		Votes	%
Richard Driver (elected)		unopposed

The Clarence

1869–70 New South Wales colonial election: The Clarence
Tuesday 14 December 1869 ^[13]

Candidate		Votes	%
Thomas Bawden (elected)		unopposed

Central Cumberland

1869–70 New South Wales colonial election: Central Cumberland
Tuesday 28 December 1869 ^[14]

Candidate		Votes	%
John Lackey (re-elected 1)		713	29.4
Edward Flood (elected 2)		629	25.9
William Campbell		616	25.4
James Jones		467	19.3
Total formal votes		2,425	100.0
Informal votes		0	0.0
Turnout		1,900	78.6

East Macquarie

1869–70 New South Wales colonial election: East Macquarie
Tuesday 21 December 1869 ^[15]

Candidate		Votes	%
John Suttor (re-elected 1)		513	45.4
William Cummings (re-elected 2)		426	37.7
Samuel Robinson		190	16.8
Total formal votes		1,129	100.0
Informal votes		0	0.0
Turnout		564	24.8

East Maitland

1869–70 New South Wales colonial election: East Maitland
Thursday 16 December 1869 ^[16]

Candidate		Votes	%
Alexander Dodds (re-elected)		270	53.5
Stephen Scholey		235	46.5
Total formal votes		505	96.7
Informal votes		17	3.3
Turnout		522	66.8

East Sydney

1869–70 New South Wales colonial election: East Sydney
Friday 3 December 1869 ^[17]

Candidate		Votes	%
Henry Parkes (re-elected 1)		3,397	16.7
James Martin (re-elected 2)		3,158	15.6
David Buchanan (elected 3)		2,765	13.6
George King (elected 4)		2,702	13.3
Charles Cowper		2,548	12.6
Julian Salomons		2,106	10.4
James Neale (defeated)		2,071	10.2
Robert Hunt		742	3.7
Alexander Steel		699	3.4
William Cover		77	0.4
W Jennett		30	0.2
Total formal votes		20,295	100.0
Informal votes		0	0.0
Turnout		5,701	56.1

Eden

1869–70 New South Wales colonial election: Eden
Tuesday 14 December 1869 ^[18]

Candidate		Votes	%
Henry Clarke (elected)		590	50.5
Daniel Egan (defeated)		578	49.5
Total formal votes		1,168	100.0
Informal votes		0	0.0
Turnout		1,168	72.9

The Glebe

1869–70 New South Wales colonial election: The Glebe
Monday 13 December 1869 ^[19]

Candidate		Votes	%
George Allen (elected)		unopposed

Goldfields North

1869–70 New South Wales colonial election: Goldfields North
Monday 10 January 1870 ^[20]

Candidate		Votes	%
Robert Wisdom (elected)		212	54.6
William Bourke		145	37.4
Henry Roman		31	8.0
Total formal votes		388	100.0
Informal votes		0	0.0
Turnout		390	45.9

Goldfields South

1869–70 New South Wales colonial election: Goldfields South
Monday 10 January 1870 ^[21]

Candidate		Votes	%
Ezekiel Baker (elected)		476	65.3
George Stephen		253	34.7
Total formal votes		729	100.0
Informal votes		0	0.0
Turnout		729	32.5

Goldfields West

1869–70 New South Wales colonial election: Goldfields West
Monday 10 January 1870 ^[22]

Candidate		Votes	%
Walter Church (re-elected)		814	64.6
Geoffrey Eagar		389	30.9
William Redman		57	4.5
Total formal votes		1,260	100.0
Informal votes		0	0.0
Turnout		1,276	21.3

Goulburn

1869–70 New South Wales colonial election: Goulburn
Tuesday 14 December 1869 ^[23]

Candidate		Votes	%
Maurice Alexander (re-elected)		unopposed

The Gwydir

1869–70 New South Wales colonial election: The Gwydir
Friday 24 December 1869 ^[24]

Candidate		Votes	%
Thomas Dangar (re-elected)		369	83.1
Edward Sharp		75	16.9
Total formal votes		444	97.4
Informal votes		12	2.6
Turnout		456	29.5

Hartley

1869–70 New South Wales colonial election: Hartley
Thursday 23 December 1869 ^[25]

Candidate		Votes	%
James Neale (elected)		628	77.2
Andrew Brown		179	22.0
John Garsed		7	0.9
Total formal votes		814	100.0
Informal votes		0	0.0
Turnout		814	38.8

The Hastings

1869–70 New South Wales colonial election: The Hastings
Thursday 23 December 1869 ^[26]

Candidate		Votes	%
Horace Dean (elected)		474	32.0
Robert Smith		444	30.0
Henry Flett		307	20.7
William Forster		253	17.1
Geoffrey Eagar		2	0.1
Ebenezer Vickery		1	0.1
Total formal votes		1,481	100.0
Informal votes		0	0.0
Turnout		1,491	56.4

The Hawkesbury

1869–70 New South Wales colonial election: The Hawkesbury
Saturday 18 December 1869 ^[27]

Candidate		Votes	%
Henry Moses (elected 1)		525	36.1
William Piddington (re-elected 2)		445	30.6
James Cunneen (defeated)		406	27.9
James Ascough		73	5.0
W P Wilshire		6	0.4
Total formal votes		1,455	100.0
Informal votes		0	0.0
Turnout		1,021	66.6

The Hume

1869–70 New South Wales colonial election: The Hume
Thursday 23 December 1869 ^[28]

Candidate		Votes	%
James Fallon (elected)		513	57.8
Thomas Mate (defeated)		375	42.2
Total formal votes		888	97.7
Informal votes		21	2.3
Turnout		909	53.3

The Hunter

1869–70 New South Wales colonial election: The Hunter
Wednesday 15 December 1869 ^[29]

Candidate		Votes	%
John Dillon (elected)		319	49.5
John Burns (defeated)		286	44.3
Alfred Boggis		40	6.2
Total formal votes		645	100.0
Informal votes		0	0.0
Turnout		644	57.8

Illawarra

1869–70 New South Wales colonial election: Illawarra
Tuesday 14 December 1869 ^[30]

Candidate		Votes	%
James Osborne (elected)		575	59.2
John Stewart (defeated)		396	40.8
Total formal votes		971	100.0
Informal votes		0	0.0
Turnout		971	68.6

Kiama

1869–70 New South Wales colonial election: Kiama
Tuesday 14 December 1869 ^[31]

Candidate		Votes	%
Henry Parkes (re-elected)		581	57.4
Samuel Gray		432	42.7
Total formal votes		1,013	98.9
Informal votes		11	1.1
Turnout		1,024	79.2

The Lachlan

1869–70 New South Wales colonial election: The Lachlan
Tuesday 28 December 1869 ^[32]

Candidate		Votes	%
James Watson (elected)		974	55.6
William Dalley		767	43.8
William Forster		12	0.7
Total formal votes		1,753	97.3
Informal votes		49	2.7
Turnout		1,802	46.7

The Lower Hunter

1869–70 New South Wales colonial election: The Lower Hunter
Friday 17 December 1869 ^[33]

Candidate		Votes	%
Robert Wisdom (re-elected)		281	51.4
Archibald Jacob		266	48.6
Total formal votes		547	97.7
Informal votes		13	2.3
Turnout		560	78.3

Liverpool Plains

1869–70 New South Wales colonial election: Liverpool Plains
Thursday 23 December 1869 ^[34]

Candidate		Votes	%
Charles Cowper (elected)		468	91.4
Hanley Bennett		44	8.6
Total formal votes		512	100.0
Informal votes		0	0.0
Turnout		512	21.6

Monara

1869–70 New South Wales colonial election: Monara
Tuesday 4 January 1870 ^[35]

Candidate		Votes	%
Daniel Egan (elected)		448	51.6
William Grahame (defeated)		420	48.4
Total formal votes		868	100.0
Informal votes		0	0.0
Turnout		868	54.5

Morpeth

1869–70 New South Wales colonial election: Morpeth
Friday 17 December 1869 ^[36]

Candidate		Votes	%
James Campbell (re-elected)		397	65.3
John Keating		211	34.7
Total formal votes		608	97.6
Informal votes		15	2.4
Turnout		623	75.9

Mudgee

1869–70 New South Wales colonial election: Mudgee
Thursday 16 December 1869 ^[37]

Candidate		Votes	%
Henry Stephen (elected)		760	59.0
Samuel Terry (defeated)		529	41.0
Total formal votes		1,289	100.0
Informal votes		0	0.0
Turnout		1,289	53.8

The Murray

1869–70 New South Wales colonial election: The Murray
Wednesday 29 December 1869 ^[38]

Candidate		Votes	%
Patrick Jennings (elected)		341	87.2
Robert Hunt		50	12.8
Total formal votes		391	100.0
Informal votes		0	0.0
Turnout		391	40.5

The Murrumbidgee

1869–70 New South Wales colonial election: The Murrumbidgee
Monday 20 December 1869 ^[39]

Candidate		Votes	%
William Macleay (re-elected)		unopposed

Narellan

1869–70 New South Wales colonial election: Narellan
Friday 17 December 1869 ^[40]

Candidate		Votes	%
Joseph Leary (elected)		226	51.6
John Hurley (defeated)		212	48.4
Total formal votes		438	100.0
Informal votes		0	0.0
Turnout		438	68.7

The Nepean

1869–70 New South Wales colonial election: The Nepean
Tuesday 14 December 1869 ^[41]

Candidate		Votes	%
James Ryan (re-elected)		405	59.2
Archibald Thompson		271	39.6
Thomas Shepherd		8	1.2
Total formal votes		684	100.0
Informal votes		0	0.0
Turnout		684	52.5

New England

1869–70 New South Wales colonial election: New England
Thursday 23 December 1869 ^[42]

Candidate		Votes	%
Charles Weaver (elected)		759	59.2
Robert Forster		520	40.6
Alexander Black		3	0.2
Total formal votes		1,282	100.0
Informal votes		0	0.0
Turnout		1,319	58.7

Newcastle

1869–70 New South Wales colonial election: Newcastle
Friday 3 December 1869^[43]

Candidate		Votes	%
George Lloyd (elected)		588	53.8
James Martin		505	46.2
Total formal votes		1,093	100.0
Informal votes		0	0.0
Turnout		1,093	76.9

Newtown

1869–70 New South Wales colonial election: Newtown
Friday 10 December 1869 ^[44]

Candidate		Votes	%
Stephen Brown (re-elected)		925	60.4
Patrick Shepherd		606	39.6
Total formal votes		1,531	100.0
Informal votes		0	0.0
Turnout		1,531	63.3

Northumberland

1869–70 New South Wales colonial election: Northumberland
Thursday 9 December 1869 ^[45]

Candidate		Votes	%
William Brookes (elected)		760	43.7
Joseph Ward		430	24.7
F Shaw		350	20.1
Francis O'Brien		122	7.0
Charles Cleveland		69	4.0
Samuel Gordon		8	0.5
Total formal votes		1,739	96.9
Informal votes		55	3.1
Turnout		1,794	72.0

Orange

1869–70 New South Wales colonial election: Orange
Friday 17 December 1869 ^[46]

Candidate		Votes	%
Saul Samuel (re-elected)		unopposed

Paddington

1869–70 New South Wales colonial election: Paddington
Monday 6 December 1869 ^[47]

Candidate		Votes	%
John Sutherland (re-elected)		unopposed

The Paterson

1869–70 New South Wales colonial election: The Paterson
Wednesday 15 December 1869 ^[48]

Candidate		Votes	%
William Arnold (re-elected)		285	76.2
Herbert Brown		88	23.5
George Townshend		1	0.3
Total formal votes		374	100.0
Informal votes		0	0.0
Turnout		374	64.2

Parramatta

1869–70 New South Wales colonial election: Parramatta
Friday 17 December 1869 ^[49]

Candidate		Votes	%
James Byrnes (re-elected 1)		468	31.9
James Farnell (re-elected 2)		455	31.0
Hugh Taylor		274	18.7
George Oakes		270	18.4
Total formal votes		1,467	100.0
Informal votes		0	0.0
Turnout		900	70.7

Patrick's Plains

1869–70 New South Wales colonial election: Patrick's Plains
Thursday 23 December 1869 ^[50]

Candidate		Votes	%
James Hoskins (re-elected)		482	54.2
Bowie Wilson (defeated)		407	45.8
Total formal votes		889	100.0
Informal votes		0	0.0
Turnout		910	54.9

Queanbeyan

1869–70 New South Wales colonial election: Queanbeyan
Thursday 23 December 1869 ^[51]

Candidate		Votes	%
William Forster (elected)		334	50.7
Charles Campbell		325	49.3
Total formal votes		659	98.5
Informal votes		10	1.5
Turnout		669	63.5

Shoalhaven

1869–70 New South Wales colonial election: Shoalhaven
Tuesday 14 December 1869 ^[52]

Candidate		Votes	%
Thomas Garrett (re-elected)		633	54.4
Samuel Goold		530	45.6
Total formal votes		1,163	99.2
Informal votes		9	0.8
Turnout		1,190	83.0

St Leonards

1869–70 New South Wales colonial election: St Leonards
Monday 20 December 1869 ^[53]

Candidate		Votes	%
William Tunks (re-elected)		752	56.5
William Forster (defeated)		579	43.5
Total formal votes		1,331	100.0
Informal votes		0	0.0
Turnout		1,331	67.0

Tenterfield

1869–70 New South Wales colonial election: Tenterfield
Thursday 23 December 1869 ^[54]

Candidate		Votes	%
Colin Fraser (elected)		397	43.2
Robert Abbott		308	33.5
James Williamson		215	23.4
Total formal votes		920	100.0
Informal votes		0	0.0
Turnout		920	55.7

The Tumut

1869–70 New South Wales colonial election: The Tumut
Wednesday 22 December 1869 ^[55]

Candidate		Votes	%
Edward Brown (re-elected)		513	61.4
Robert Lynch		321	38.4
J T V Walker		2	0.2
Total formal votes		836	100.0
Informal votes		0	0.0
Turnout		836	68.2

The Upper Hunter

1869–70 New South Wales colonial election: The Upper Hunter
Thursday 16 December 1869 ^[56]

Candidate		Votes	%
Archibald Bell (re-elected)		510	63.2
William Gordon		297	36.8
Total formal votes		807	100.0
Informal votes		0	0.0
Turnout		807	32.4

Wellington

1869–70 New South Wales colonial election: Wellington
Tuesday 28 December 1869 ^[57]

Candidate		Votes	%
Gerald Spring (elected)		238	66.7
Andrew Ross		62	17.4
Charles Blakefield		57	16.0
Total formal votes		357	100.0
Informal votes		0	0.0
Turnout		357	26.5

West Macquarie

1869–70 New South Wales colonial election: West Macquarie
Wednesday 15 December 1869 ^[58]

Candidate		Votes	%
Edmund Webb (elected)		397	57.6
Richard Driver (defeated)		292	42.4
Total formal votes		689	98.0
Informal votes		14	2.0
Turnout		703	74.9

West Maitland

1869–70 New South Wales colonial election: West Maitland
Monday 20 December 1869 ^[59]

Candidate		Votes	%
Benjamin Lee (re-elected)		488	58.6
Andrew Liddell		345	41.4
Total formal votes		833	100.0
Informal votes		0	0.0
Turnout		833	75.2

West Sydney

1869–70 New South Wales colonial election: West Sydney
Thursday 9 December 1869 ^[60]

Candidate		Votes	%
Joseph Wearne (elected 1)		2,977	17.8
John Robertson (re-elected 2)		2,829	17.0
William Windeyer (re-elected 3)		2,739	16.4
William Speer (elected 4)		2,664	16.0
William Campbell (defeated)		2,602	15.6
Geoffrey Eagar (defeated)		2,353	14.1
Alexander Richardson		526	3.2
Total formal votes		16,690	100.0
Informal votes		0	0.0
Turnout		5,172	57.1

The Williams

1869–70 New South Wales colonial election: The Williams
Wednesday 22 December 1869 ^[61]

Candidate		Votes	%
John Nowlan (re-elected)		473	61.0
William Mullen		222	28.7
William Watson		69	8.9
Francis O'Brien		11	1.4
Total formal votes		775	100.0
Informal votes		0	0.0
Turnout		775	64.6

Windsor

1869–70 New South Wales colonial election: Windsor
Wednesday 22 December 1869 ^[62]

Candidate		Votes	%
Arthur Dight (elected)		243	50.9
William Walker (defeated)		234	49.1
Total formal votes		477	100.0
Informal votes		0	0.0
Turnout		477	74.7

Wollombi

1869–70 New South Wales colonial election: Wollombi
Monday 13 December 1869 ^[63]

Candidate		Votes	%
Joseph Eckford (re-elected)		414	55.7
Lyall Scott		330	44.4
Total formal votes		744	100.0
Informal votes		0	0.0
Turnout		743	65.4

Yass Plains

1869–70 New South Wales colonial election: Yass Plains
Friday 24 December 1869 ^[64]

Candidate		Votes	%
Michael Fitzpatrick (elected)		show of hands
Thomas Laidlaw

See also

• Candidates of the 1869–70 New South Wales colonial election
• Members of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, 1869–1872

Notes

1. There were 11 uncontested districts and turnout is based on the roll of 103,795 for the contested districts.^[1]